Rep. Peter Welch on Thursday commended the Senate for approving pay-as-you-go budgeting rules.

By a 60-40 vote, the Senate passed a responsible budgeting amendment that is similar to legislation sponsored by Welch. The provision requires lawmakers to pay for new mandatory spending or entitlement programs either by cutting spending or increasing revenue.

“For most Vermonters, paying for what you spend is simply a way of life. Congress should live by those same rules,” Welch said. “This legislation is an important step toward getting our fiscal house in order. Pay-as-you-go budgeting rules will force lawmakers to make the tough but necessary choices to turn deficits into surpluses.”

Welch sponsored the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2009 (H.R. 2920), which passed the House last summer. Upon taking office in 2007, one of Welch’s first votes was to reestablish PAYGO in House rules. The Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act takes the next step, giving those rules the force of law and helping to rein in record deficits. Welch joined President Obama at an East Room press conference in June when the president unveiled the legislation.

Because the Senate legislation differs from that which passed the House last summer, the bill will have to come before the House for a final vote.

Sens. Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders supported the measure.